Manufacture of nonplaniform sheets of fibrous material



July 2, 1929. M.. KOPPELMAN 1,719,819

MANUFACTURE OF NONPLANIFORM SHEETS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 1'7, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIHHHIM Suva/4410c July 2, 1929. M. KOPPELMAN 1,719,319

MANUFACTURE OF NONPLANIFORM SHEETS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 1'7, 1926 6 SheetsSheet 2 July 2, 1929. M. KOP-PELMAN 3 MANUFACTURE OF NONPLANIFORM SHEETS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 17, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 -vwemtoz & ZMWWW 351 @lbliovnw July 2, 1929. M. KOPPELMAN MANUFACTURE OF NONPLANIFORM SHEETS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 17. 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiwuewbo'o @WM 22%, 14 flaw/ gggmo July 2, 1929. KOPPELMAN 1,719,819

MANUFACTURE OF NONPLANIFORM SHEETS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed May 1'7, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 2, 1929. M. KOPPELMAN MANUFACTURE OF NONPLANIFORM SHEETS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 17 1926 l a ented duly 11351 Wfid.

IMORRIS KOPPELMAN, 01E BROOKLYN, NEW? YORK.

FKANUFACTUJRE OF NONPLANIFOBM SHEETS 0F JEIBROUS MATERIAL.

Application filed. May 17,

The improvements relate to the manufao' ture of sheets of fibrous material with projections or protuberances thereon and integral therewith, and primarily to sheets of this character made of approximately uniform thickness throughout. Such sheets are used prii'u'ipally for the packing of eggs and other fragile articles. The improvements further relate to the manufacture of such sheets from wood pulp or other fibres by what is commonly known as the pulp sucking process, a process in which forming sheets of foranr inous material having the shape and contour of the sheets to be formed are caused to pass through a bath containing the fibres while suction is -maintained on one side thereof to draw the fibres against the forms and form a coating thereon. and the forms then caused to pass from the bath where the coating may be pressed, dried and removedto form the finished sheets.

It is common practice to mount the forms on the periphery of a rotating drum, and to have suction maintained in the interior of the drum, the forms passing through the bath as the drum rotates and then up out of the hath where the sheets are pressed, removed from the drum by suitable mechanism and dried. Tn some cases the sheets are partly dried on the drum and are pressed thereon by means ot' a reciprocating die or the reciprocation of the drum, or by other means. This method and amaaratus make no provision for holding the sheets in shape during drying, and permit shrinkage and distortion, particularly when separated sheets are being formed, are necessarily slow in their operation, owing to limitation of the diameter of the drum by the space available, by the structural difliculties and the power involved in its operation, and the necessity for maintaining effective suction, the interrupt-ion of its rotation for the pressing operation and other conditions. The employment of eflective suction to cause precipitation of the fibres on the forms is as sential, and therefore in the manufacture of nonplaniforn'i sheet material the maintenance of the suction has presented serious problems because of the great difficulties in maintaining a seal between the suction chambers and the terms so as to prevent the inrush of air from destroying the effectiveness of the suction or making the power cost of its main- 1923. Serial N0. 109,712.

tenance prohibitive. For this and other reasons the employment of an endless form belt has apparently never been practically accomplished, although its desirability from standpoints of speed, eiiiciency and economy in the manufacture of nonplaniform sheets has been apparent.

The present improvements are designed to provide a suction apparatus and process for forming fibroussheets of the character described by the pulp sucking process employing an endless belt or carrier of forms and maintaining eficient suction and air pressure thereon with economy in the power required,

in the wear and tear on the apparatus and other costs incident to its operation, and to produce an apparatus at relatively low cost which will be durable and dependable in its operation at all times. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the, following description. The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment thereof, and in which a Fig. 1 is an elevation of an apparatus involving the improvements partly in vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the suction and air pressure boxes and their accessories, with portions of the suction box at one end broken away to expose the interior and forms passing therethrough of the forms and pressing dies and carriers with their endless chains and sprocket wheel therefor;

Fig. t is a vertical cross section on the line 4 4: of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an underside View of the form carrying frames of the endless belt with fragments of the operating chains, and foraminous forms on one frame;

F ig. 6 is an edge View of the carriers shown in Fig. 5, the position of the parts being the reverse of their position as they pass through, the bath;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 showing a modified form of the carrier adapted to be used for forming a continuous sheet of material instead of separate sheets suchas the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are intended to produce;

. Fig. 3 1s a detail in elevation of fragments Fig. 8 is a view of the modification of Fig. 7 similar to that of Fig. 6;

Fig.- 9 is an enlargeddctail of one of the sprocket wheels of the endless carriers showing the locking of the chains thereof and a method of securing exact registration of the 1 forming and pressing dies;

Fig. 10 is an edge view of the sprocket of Fig. 9 and its companion sprocket mounted therewith to carry the chains;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the said chain;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the position and arrangement of the combined blowing and suction box for removing the sheets from the forms and the forming and conveying belts passing therethrough;

Fig. 13 is avertical crosssection of the forms and their carrier; I

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view in elevation of an arrangement of the endless forming and conveying belts and the tank for the pulp bath;

Fig. 15 is a'similar View of the preferred form and arrangement of forming, pressing and conveying belts;

Fig. 16 is a similar view of a modified form of the apparatus in which the suction com partments are'located in the bottom of thetank and beneath-the pulp bath, with the forming belt passing over the top thereof and under the surface of the liquid, and also showing a construction and arrangement of the forming and conveying belts in which the latter after receiving the. sheets from the formers travels upward and, back and forth through an oven or dryer;

Fig. 17 is a similar view of a modification of the construction and arrangement of Fig. 16.

In the preferred form, the su porting frame or base ofthe machine 1 has suitable uprights 2, 3 and 4 supporting the tank for the pulp bath '5 in horizontal position, posts '6 and 7 on Which are mounted the double sprocket wheels 8, 8' and the single sprocket wheels 9 by which the endless chains 10, carrying the forms, and the endless chain 11 carrying the pressing'and conveying dies and carriers, respectively, are mounted. Power for operating the apparatus may be applied to the shaft 12 ofthe double sprockets, and at any other. desired points. The chain 11 runs over the wheel 9, the wheels 8, thereversing wheels 13 and 14, the Wheel 15, after passing through the drying compartment 16, back through the said compartment, over the wheels 17 and 18 and back to the wheel 9. The chain 10 passes over the sprocket wheels 8' around the wheels 19, over the suction and pressure boxes 20 and 21, respectively, over the wheel 22, down through thetank 5 and over the suction box to the double sprocket 8, 8'- 'again. These wheels areall mounted for rotation on upright members of the frame,-

the wheels 13, 14, '17, and 18 on 23, the wheel 19 on 24 and the wheels 15 and 22 on 25.

The tank 5 has a supply pipe 26 through which theliquid in which the fibres for forming the sheets are suspended is supplied thereto, preferably from a reservoir in which the level of the liquid is maintained at a point a little below the top of the tank or trough 5, and into this trough and below the water line thereof the suction chambers 27, 28, 29 and 30 extend, so that their open bottoms are sealed by the fluid and by the forms and their carriers.

The suction chambers or heads 31, 32, 33 and 34 are made progressively shallower, so that their lower edges do not extend to the level of the fluid, and present an upward i11- cline to the forms carried by the chain 10 as it passes thereover. The suction chambers or heads 27, 28, 29 and 30 are also made progressively shallower, so that the entire set presents an upwardly inclined surface, which permits the forms to rise gradually as they pass thereover, from a level well under the water level of the tank to a level well above the same, so that the said forms are first coated with the fibres drawn against them by the suction and then dried to a certain extent by the same suction as they pass from the tank and over the sprockets 8. In order to remove the formed sheets from the-forms, the pressure box 21, with pressure heads 35, 36 and 37, is provided, so that as the forms pass thereover air pressure is applied to their upper sides to remove the sheets therefrom. At the same time suction-is exerted on the inside of the sheets by the suction box 38 on the inside thereof. In this manner the sheets are transferred from the forming dies to the carrying dies by which they are conveyed through the drying compartment and to the place of discharge.

The suction chambers are secured within the box 20 and have their ends secured against the sides 20 thereof while at their tops they tops of the row of suction chambers and communicating through branch conduits 40, 40 with the main suction conduit 41 connected with a suitable air pump. The suction box 38 also communicates with the air exhausting means through a conduit 42. 4

The air pressure chambers are connected with a blower or air compressor through the longitudinal conduit 43 and the pipe 44. The last four suction chambers have valves 45 controlling their communication with the suction conduit and the first pressure chamber has a similar valve 45', so that these chambers may be cut off if desired, as, for instance, when the machine is first started and the forms at that end of the machine are not covered and sealed by a layer of pulp. The suction and pressure heads or chambers, except where they com-' municate with the suction and pressure conduits respectively and except for their bottoms, which are open to the forms, are airtight, so that none of the suction or pressure will be lost. 1

In order to seal the forms as they pass through the bath and over the suction and pressure devices and prevent the entrance or escape of fluid, except through the forms, to any material extent, the form carrying frames 46 and connecting plates 47 and 47 are provided with V-shaped tongues 48, 48', along side edges, and as the frames enter the bath these tongues are received between guides 49 which lead them to grooves 50 extending along the lower longitudinal edges of the suction box sides 20'. These tongues slide along in the grooves as the forms pass over the suction heads or chambers and are in contact therewith at'their tops, so as to form a sliding closure to prevent the passage of air or other fluid to or from the interior. The pressure box is provided with a groove similar to that of the suction box to receive the tongues 48. The lower edges of suction chambers are connected and sealed,'each longitudinal edge to the like edge of the next, and at the ends of the suction and blast or pressure compartments a packing 51 is provided between the outer surface of the end suction chamber and the inner surface of the box surrounding it, this packing consisting of a loop of rubber or other flexible material interposed between the lower edges of said parts and extending slightly below them into contact with the upper surface of the forms so as to form an effective seal. As the upper surfaces of the forms are flat and plane, and the packing -51 is of suflicient width to cover two or more 'rows of their perforations, air and liquid will thus be prevented from passing this seal. The effectiveness of the seal is also helped by the presence of the fluid with its floating fibres which will be drawn in to some extent between,

the packing and the upper surfaces of the formed sheets and otherframes and between i the tongues and the grooves to calk the almost infinitesimal spaces between the sliding surfaces.- The extensions 52, 52 of the bottom edges of the sides 20' and 21, which have portions 53, 53, secured respectively to the former, is also provided with a way 54in which are bearing balls'55, and each frame and connecting plate for the forms has a lateral extension carrying an upwardly and inwardly turned groove or bearing member 56 which runs over the said ball bearings as the 'form carrier passes over the suction and blowing devices. By this provision friction is reduced toa minimum, and the parts are maintained accurately in relations best suited to maintain an effective seal. As the. pressure" ,due to the suction tends to press the carrier against the bottom of the suction compartments the extensions forming the bearing members 56 are provided with longitudinal grooves 57 which will receive and bear against the ball bearings protruding slightly below the member 52, and in this manner the carrier is not only supported but is prevented from binding or having too much friction.

' The construction and arrangement of the double sprockets and the chains supporting the forms and supporting the pressing and carrying dies is such that the forms and the dies are brought together so that they cannot fail to register-or coincide accurately, even when the chain becomes stretched. Double sprocket wheels 8, 8, fixed to a common hub 58 are fixed to the shaft 12, which is preferably a power shaft, for the chains 10 and 11. The chains 10, at either edge of the form carrier ride onthe inner wheels 8', the teeth of which engage its bars 10 10", and these bars 10' may also extend outwardly to engage between the teeth of the sprocket wheel 8 (see Figs; 4, 9, 10 and 11). The chains 11 are similar to the chains 10 and ride on the sprocket wheels 8 while their bars 11 extend inwardly and engage between the sprockets of wheel 8 underthe links of the chain 10. In order to accommodate the pins or bars of the outer chain the chain 10 has certain of its links bent to form recesses 10 which receive the inwardly extending bars of the chain 11. The outwardly extending bars 10 of the chain 10 will engage between the teeth of the sprocket wheel 8 above the chain 11, which is not provided with a bend or recess. In this manner the chains are locked together. on the sprocket wheels 8, 8', and will remain together after the dies of the pressing and conveying belt have been pressed into the forms, while passing over the said sprocket wheels and until the two chains are separated at the wheel 19, where the formed sheet is carried on by the chain 11 after being removed from the formers by the blast of the box 43 and the suction of the box 38.

The extending bars or pins of the chains are provided only opposite the pivots of the form carrying frames, although they maybe provided at other points if desired, and the same bars 10 also extend inwardly to form .the pivots on which the form frames are mounted. To guide the bars of the two chains as they approach each other and insure their coincidence the chain 10 is also provided with guides 59, 59 (Figs. 5 and 6) and a flattened with smaller meshes or perforations 63, the former are flat and are held in the frames 46, which they fill, while the latter have their edges held in that frame and extend to form 6 the perforated domes 64. Any desired shape may be employed to form corresponding protuberances in the sheets. In the construction shown in Fig. 5 separate sheets will be formed by the pulp drawn against the sheets 63 by the- 2 uous sheet may be employed in the machine simultaneously by alternating them onthe endless carrier.

In Fig. 14 the construction and arrangement of the apparatus is the sameas that 25 hereinbefore described except that the endle'ss belt carriers are run over sprocket wheels in a different manner after the sheets are formed, the carrier 66 at A taking thesheets and carrying them upwardly for drying purposes if desired, or the sheets may be discharged from the carriers as they reach the right hand end of the apparatus as shown in that figure.

' In Fig. 15 the pressing belt 67 does not take the sheets from the former, but they are taken 7 therefrom by the belt 68, passed through a suitable dryer and discharged. T

In Fig. 16 the suction box 69 is inverted and fornis the bottom of the tank, and the carriers, which are also inverted, run thereover and under the fluid in the tank and then out over the upper edge of the tank where the-sheets are transferred to the carrier belt 70 and passed through a'suitable drying oven 71 to the place of'discharge.

A similar arrangement is shown in Fig. 17 except that in this case a special pressing belt 72 is employed and the sheets are transferred to the conveying and drying belt 73 by a blower 38 and over an apron 74.

The forms 46" on the-carrier 11 are substantially the same. in construction as the forms carried by the carrier 10, except that the covering sheet, 62 is omitted, and the domes are preferably made of stronger material so that they-can'exert a considerable pressure on the sheets without being stretched or deformed. .Like the forms of the first carrier they are separated by cross plates similar to the cross plates 47 mounted by means of small brackets 47 on the chain 10, and having their edges overlapping the frames of the forms.

, Various changes in the details of construchpngand arrangement herein shown and degf'scribed may be made without. departing from the invention, and in making the illustrative embodiment of the improvements set forth herein those skilled in the art will make such modifications of size, form and arrangement as may be required to secure the most effective operation and the best results.

One of the important features of the improvements is that they provide means for holding the sheets on the pressing forms or female dies while they pass through the drying stage, thus preventing the warping, curling and distortion of the sheets, which has been a serious trouble in the manufacture of material of this kind. In the forms illustrated in Figs. and 17 the sheets are transferred from both the forming and pressing rate sheets corresponding to the separateforming dies. In the latter case it is important that the sheets be held against distortion due to drying, shrinkage or other causes until they are dried. The carrying of the sheets on the pressing dies is also important and useful because it permits them to be passed back and forth through a relatively small drying compartment which economizes both space and heat.

It will be understood that the forming and pressing forms'or dies are so mounted that as they pass over the pressure chamber they are slightly separated so that they will be removed from the first forms and held on the second forms and will adhere to the second forms so as to be carried 01f thereby when the two forms are moved apart. This separation need be only a small fraction of an inch to be sufiicient for the purpose of disengaging the sheets from the first forms, and should be as small as possible so that the sheets in leaving the first form and being set on the second form willnot move far enough to cause any injury to them in their soft, moist state. It will also be understood that any number of the sprocket-wheels 8, 8' necessary to secure proper compression of the formed sheets and render their surfaces relatively smooth may be employed opposite the suction chambers and between the suction chambers and the pressure chamber, which may be separated from the suction chamber a considerable distance, if desired.

In the apparatus shown and described the sheets are carried by the pressing forms to and through the drying compartment, after being removed from the other forms by pressure or suction, or both. This operation, however, may be reversed, and the sheets may be freed of the pressing forms at or before the separation of the two forms andcarried through the drying area 011 the original forms. Such an operation may be carried out by the arrangement shown in Figs. 15 and 17 by the mere'employment of a proper pressure or Inction box to remove the sheets at the right time, and omitting the conveying belts intended to carry the sheets through the dryer.

The usefulness and application of the improvements herein described which provide for the taking off of the formed sheets from the forming dies or forms onto a flexible conveyor, with members thereon conforming substantially to the contour of the sheets, and conveying them thereon through a drying compartn'ient, is not limited to forming means such as those herein shown and described, but the improvements may be employed in connecti on with other forming means, and when so employed will secure highly advantageous results. Thus they may be used in corn nection with a rigid wheel such as that shown and described in the copending application by me and another, filed April 15, 1922, Serial No. 553,139, in which is shown a rigid wheel or drum carrying the formers mounted to ro tate through a bath and having the suction devices mounted within the drum. In such an application of the improvements the pressing and/or conveying forms or dies herein shown and described and mounted on an endless belt are brought into contact with the sheets on the forming dies of the-drum in manner similar to the manner in which they are brought into contact therewith while on the forming dies of the flexible forming belt herein shown, and are removed therefrom in substantially the same manner and conveyed by the endless conveyer 11 to and through the drying compartment. Such an application has certain advantages, and may be preferred in some connections. Among these advantages is the one that the forming dies with the formed sheets thereon are inverted above the bath so that liquid gravitating therefrom and drawn therefrom by the suction will not require the use of catch pans outside the suction chamber to carry it ofi. I,

In the flexible forming belt shown herein the forming dies are inverted as they pass over the wheel 19 which reverses the carrier, as indicated in Fig. 5, which is an underside view of them in their upper and inverted position, and Fig. 6, which shows a side or edge view of them in this position, and liquid dripping therefrom or dripping from thesheets, when the sheets are carried thereon, or dripping from the pressing and conveying dies should be caught by a suitable drip pan or the like and conveyed back to thetank.

I claim: 7

1.' In an apparatus of the class specified,

a'stationary suction chamber open at its bottom, a container for loose fibres suspended in liquid open at its top, said open bottom of the suction chamber being below the liquid level in said container, foraminous nonplaniform forms adapted to have the fibres deposited thereon by the suction to form sheets corresponding 1 with the contour thereof, a

flexible carrier mounted to move over the open portion of the suction chamber below said liquid level and carrying said forms, and means for maintaining a seal between said forms and said suction chamber.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a suction chamber open at one portion, a container for loose fibres suspended in liquid having an opening above its liquid level, said open portion of the suction chamber being below the liquid level in said container, foraminous nonplaniform forms adapted to have the fibres deposited thereon by the suction to form sheets corresponding with the contour thereof, a flexible carrier mounted to move slidingly over the open portion of the suction chamber below said liquid level and carrying said forms, and means, for

maintaining a seal between said forms and said suction chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the class specified, a suction chamber divided into compartments open at one portion, a container for loose fibres suspended in liquid having an opening above its liquid level, said open portion of the suction chamber being below the liquid level in said container, foraminous nonplaniform forms adapted to have the fibres deposited thereon by the snction to form sheets corresponding with the contour thereof, a

flexible endless carrier mounted to move over the open portion of the suction chamber be low and above said liquid level and carrying said forms and means for maintaining a seal while permitting sliding movement between said forms and saidsuction chamber.

4. In the apparatus specified in claim 2, said seal between the forms and the suction chamber comprising a tongue on one and the other having a groove receiving said tongue, said parts extending along lines parallel with the line of travel of the carrier.

5. In the apparatus specified in claim 2, said seal between the forms and the suction chamber comprising a tongue on one and the other having a groove receiving said tongue, said parts extending along lines parallel with the line of travel of the carrier and being positioned at the sides of the forms and outside the foraminous portions thereof.

6. In the apparatus specified in claim 2, said forms being pivotally mounted on said carrier, and means for maintaining the same in edgewise alignment while passing over the suction chamber.

7. In the apparatus specified in claim 2, said forms being articulated, and flat members substantially in pla11e therewith and extending from end to end thereof transversely of the carrier at the joints of said forms and having portions in overlapping relation thereto.

8. In an apparatus of the class specified, a suction chamber open at one portion, a container for loose fibres suspended in liquid having an opening above its liquid level, said open portion of. the suction chamber being a seal between said forms .and said suction chamber, a second set of forms, a flexible carrier carrying said forms mounted to travel throughout a part of its path inplane parallel, with the first named carrier and with the.

forms in close proximity, the said second forms being on the side of the first forms on which the pulp is deposited and coinciding therewith in contour so that the said pulp is compressed between the two said forms When they are brought into close proximity,

and separable means for automatically locking the said two forms together 1n parallelism.

. 9. In the apparatus specified in claim 3, the said locking means comprising a pair of wheels mounted in close position to each other in parallel planes and having peripheral teeth in' lateral alignment, one of said wheels engaging the first carrier and one the second carrier.

10." In the apparatus specified'in claim 8,

- the said locking means comprising a pair of wheels mounted in close position to each other in vparallel planes and havlng periph- ,eral teeth spaced apart in lateral alignment,

one of said wheels engaging the first carrier and one the second carrier.

11. In the apparatus specified in claim 8, the said locking means comprising a pair of Wheels mounted in close position to each other in parallel planes and having peripheral teeth 'in lateral alignment; one of said wheels engaging the first carrier and one the second carrier and also engaging the first carrier.

12."'In the apparatus specified in claim 8,

the said locking means comprising a pair of wheels mounted in close osition to each other in parallel planes an having. peripheral teeth in lateral alignment, one of said wheels engaging the first carrier and one the second carrier and also-engaging the'fir st carrier, said othercarrier being provided with recesses to receive an extending member.

I 13. In the apparatus specified in claim 8, said locking means comprising guide members extending from one carrier and a lateral- 1y extending member on the other carrier extending into the vertical plane of said guide members and adapted to enter the said guide members when the two carriers are brought together and to engage therewith to prevent relative longitudinal movement.

14. Inthe apparatus specified in claim 8,

'said locking means comprising guide members extending from one carrier and a. laterally extending member on the other carrier extending into the vertical plane of said guide members and adapted to enter the said guide members when the two carriers are brought together and to engage therewith to prevent relative longitudinal movement, said projecting member having an enlarged portion with a plane surface, and a similar projection having a similar enlarged portion on the other'carrier located between said guid ing members and-with which the said portion of the first projecting member is brought into contact by the action of the said guiding members. i

15. In an apparatus of the class specified, a suction chamber open at one portion, a container for loose fibres suspended in liquid having an opening above its liquid level, said open portion of the suction chamber being below the liquid level in said container, toraminousnonplaniform forms adapted to have the fibres deposited thereon by the suction to form sheets corresponding with the contour thereof, a flexible carrier mounted to more over the open portion of the suction chamber below said liquid level and carrying said forms, and means for maintaining a seal between said forms and said suction chamber, an extension of said suction chamber above said liquid level over which said carrier also passes, and means for maintaining a seal between said forms and said extension.

16. In the apparatus specified in claim 15, a fluid pressure chamber over which said carrier passes and means for maintaining a seal between said forms and said pressure chamber, the construction and arrangement being such that the forms are first coated with pulp while passing through the liquid bath in the container to form sheets, the sheets are caused to adhere to their forms by the suction in the extension of the chamber, and partly dehydrated, and are then removed from the forms, and further dehydrated by the action of the pressure chamber.

17. In the apparatus specified in claim 1:), a fluid pressure chamber over which said carrier passes and means for maintaining a seal between said forms and said pressure chamber, the construction and arrangement being such that the forms are first coated with pulp while passing through the liquid bath in the container to form sheets, the sheets are caused to adhere to their forms bv the suction in the extension of the chamber, and partly dehydrated, and are then removed from the forms, and further dehydrated by the action of the pressure chamber, and a second carrier mounted to travel parallel with the first carrier and on the side thereof opposite the suction and pressure chambers adapted to receive the fibrous mafirst carrier and through a drying compartment.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, a vessel containing a pulp bath, forms mounted to pass through said bath below the liquid line thereof, suction devices in said vessel under which the said forms pass in traveling theretln'ough, pressing and con,- veying forms mounted to move into close proximity to the first form's after they pass through the bath and to thus compress fibres deposited on said first forms to formsheets, said forms being nonplaniform, means for removing the said sheets from the first forms while they are in contact with the suction forms, and mechanism for separating the second forms from the first forms, a drying compartment and means for conveying the said sheets through said compartment while on the said second forms.

19. In the apparatus specified in claim 18,

endless carriers on which the said forms are mounted and on which they travel andact in the manner stated. i

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a vessel containing a pulp bath, forms mounted to pass through said bath below the liquid line thereof, suction devices in said vessel under which thesaid forms pass in traveling therethrough, pressing and conveying forms mounted. to move into close proximity to the first forms after they pass through the bath and to thus compress fibres deposited on said first forms to form sheets, said forms being nonplaniform, means for separating the said sheets and for conveying them back to the positions described, and for conducting one of them through a dry ing compartment in the interim, and means tor separating said sheets from one of said forms while holding them on the other.

21. In an apparatus for forming nonplaniform sheets of fibrous material, a vessel containing loose fibres suspended in a liquid, forms mounted to pass through said vessel in contact with said fibres, suction devices on one side of said forms, arranged to draw said fibres againstthe opposite side of said forms to form sheets of material conforming to the contour of the latter, means for moving said forms to and through said vessel, conveying forms mounted outside said vessel to move into close proximity to the first forms after they pass through the vessel and into contact with said sheets, means for separating said sheets from the first forms and depositing them on the second forms, means for separating the said forms from each other and a drying compartment through which the said second forms pass with the sheets thereon.

, v 22. In an apparatus for forming nonplaniform sheets of fibrous material, a vessel containing loose fibres suspended in a liquid,- forms mounted to pass through said vessel in contact with said fibres, suction devices on one side of said forms, arranged to draw said fibres against the opposite side of said forms to form sheets of material conforming to the contour of the latter, means for moving said forms to and through said vessel, conveying forms mounted outside said vessel to move into close proximity to the first forms after they pass through the vessel and into contactwith said sheets, means for separating said sheets from the first forms and depositing them on the second forms, means for separating the said forms from each other and a drying compartment through which the said second forms pass with the sheets thereon, said second forms being mounted on a flexible carrier mounted to pass through said drying compartment and to return to the point of proximity with the first forms continuously.

23. In the mechanism specified in claim 21, the said second forms conforming substantially to the contour of the first forms and the sheets. I

24. In the mechanism specified in claim 21, the said second forms conforming substantially to the contour of the first forms and the sheets, and an endless conveyeron which said second forms are mounted.

Witness my hand this 14th day of May, 1926, at the clty'of New York, in the county and State of New York.

MORRIS KO'PPELMAN. 

